Long enough for Rita to find them still fighting. Long enough for Reno's three men to die under a strange spell cast by the fleeing mysterious warrior. Long enough for that very warrior to change bodies multiple times and end up in that of a child who had managed to enter the capital.
Reno slashed, struck, exploded. Every time the two crossed paths, no matter what the magician did, nothing seemed to slow Reno down. He wasn't even getting tired.
But he was. He was constantly running out of aura. To the point that he refused to turn into water one more time against the warrior.
If he did it again, he would die.
However, the ogre did not strike him. Nothing happened, even though Man-Eater's blade was right in front of his head.
He opened his eyes, only to see, in shock, that Reno was pale. He wasn't even looking at him, but off to the side, his face filled with fear.
The ogre… pale? It was impossible… Something had to be happening. Not to him—to someone else. Someone he loved.
The magician turned his head and saw Rita.
The beautiful woman stood there, looking at her husband with a worried expression.
Suddenly, both he and Reno—who both knew how this would end—thought of the same thing at the same moment.
"The heavy cost..."
And then, it was heard.
Despite the pouring rain, all of them could hear it. As if it resonated in their minds. As if it had been hiding within each of them, waiting for the right moment.
Whether it was Rita, Reno, or the weak magician, all could tell that the voice sounded extremely pleased.
In a whisper as mystical as the wind itself—drowned in terror for some, drowned in joy for others—a voice did not tear through their eardrums, but through their hearts.
"Let me take over."
Suddenly, an immense pressure spread across the entire area. A pressure so great that even the ogre had no choice but to drop to one knee.
The ground trembled, and the weakest debris began to bounce slightly or crumble into dust.
An old building that had endured countless battles and weapons finally collapsed with a thunderous sound, and the dust couldn't even rise.
The whole world seemed to kneel under a giant hand crushing it.
For the first time in his life, Reno felt true fear…
Rita felt it too, the pressure forcing her to bend one knee. Her men didn't last long either. Each of them dropped to one knee—or even both.
The pressure was so overwhelming that it made her suffocate. Her heart felt as if it were being crushed by a black hand.
"What is this…"
Then, another strange event appeared in the area.
Reno watched as the child's body twisted in every direction, as if something was trying to force its way out, while he screamed in pain…
Bones burst out from his elbow, and his knees could no longer withstand the pressure applied to them. Reno, still struggling on one knee, couldn't look away from such a horrifying sight.
The child's body seemed to crumple like a crushed can, writhing like an insect, accompanied by a scream of pain Reno had never heard before. A mass of horror and complete panic, with a face so distorted it no longer resembled a human being.
That day, even Reno's very soul trembled…
But it didn't stay that way for long. Quickly, the child's body filled with bubbles. But it wasn't water.
It was a strange black liquid forming those eerie bubbles, which this time did not regenerate the magician but seemed to devour him. Each bubble took up more space on the child's body, while the child himself occupied less and less.
Reno was gripped by fear but could not step back.
As the child's body shrank away, Reno saw two black hands emerge from his forehead. The backs of the hands were pressed together, and they seemed to be pushing against the warrior's head to bring a body into existence.
And that is exactly what happened.
The two hands extended, and soon, two black and grotesque arms emerged, pressing against the warrior's body to push themselves out, completely tearing apart what remained of the original child—his body devoured by the remaining black bubbles.
Soon, a body covered in that black, repulsive liquid emerged, as if drenched in oil. And yet, despite that dark, liquid form, a snow-white smile could be seen.
The thing was smiling with pleasure.
Reno couldn't move. Paralyzed by the horrific vision before him.
Rita, too, was unable to make the slightest movement.
Suddenly, the thing opened its mouth to speak. There was nothing inside it except more black liquid. Its voice was calm and almost playful, completely unfitting for the situation.
"I'm sorry. I can sometimes put on more pleasant performances than this one, but I didn't have time to prepare it properly. I had to escape Tericia's surveillance."
Reno couldn't grasp this being. Its entrance had been the most horrifying thing he had ever seen—something born from the depths of the extraordinary, the absurd, even madness.
Meanwhile, the mysterious warrior's body was still there, torn in two and filled with black bubbles destroying it.
It was the first time he had seen something so repulsive, and yet he was certain he wasn't dreaming. That strange sensation seeping into his bones made it clear—this was real.
Whatever this thing was, he had just stepped into a world far beyond him.
He thought back to Armes' words and their sudden importance. If this was truly the end of the world, then it was possible that it was caused by this very thing.
The creature noticed the ogre's lost gaze and decided to speak, accompanying its words with gestures that seemed almost noble and composed.
"Oh, is that guy still worrying you? Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
The thing snapped its fingers, and the bubble process accelerated. Soon, the mysterious warrior's entire body disappeared into the bubbles, which then floated away as if nothing had happened. The creature waited until the largest one hovered in front of its face before saying:
"Boom."
Its cheerful tone hid the violent explosion that followed. The bubbles burst like gunshots, nearly piercing the ears of everyone present.
The creature kept smiling, its monstrous black, almost liquid body illuminated by its bright white grin.
"Oh, pardon me. I shouldn't present myself like this."
The creature clapped its hands, and as if by magic, its black body turned pure white, forming real skin. Short, messy black hair fell over its eyes. It finally resembled a human—though after what they had just seen, it was impossible to truly see it as one.
It looked young and thin, yet strangely terrifying. In truth, something was wrong with it. Despite its human appearance, everything about it felt monstrous.
At first glance, it seemed normal—but upon closer inspection, its body was pale, and its skin didn't even seem like real skin.
Reno focused his gaze on the young man's skin and saw, with horror, that every small shape between the cracks was actually a tiny human face frozen in an expression of terror.
The creature noticed Reno's gaze again.
"It's not very polite to stare at a stranger's naked body."
The young man stretched his arms and upper body, then clapped his hands again. Suddenly, a long black robe tied with a belt appeared, covering his bare skin in a small cloud that dissipated as quickly as it came. A small black hood settled on his head, but he gently pushed it back so they could see his face again. Caligae appeared around his feet, completing the outfit. He now looked like a perfect magician.
"I don't have my wand today. I can't really use it."
The pressure on Reno's body did not lessen, but the time for hesitation was over.
He had urgent things to do—and the first was to get Rita to safety. Whatever this "heavy cost" was that he refused to believe in, he would not risk it being his wife.
Slowly, painfully, he managed to stand up, forcing his battered knees to obey. It felt as though he was carrying the world itself—a weight he had never borne before. Heavier than the throne, heavier than his dream, heavier than his own story. Physically speaking, even for him, it was a feat.
The magician was surprised but kept his arrogant, playful tone.
"Well? I was told you were incredible, but now I'm truly impressed. You really remind me of Aerothene."
Reno kept pushing, the pressure crushing down on his broad back. It was unbearable, but he had to endure it—he had to rise. If he didn't, Rita might die.
If he didn't…
No. He couldn't think about that. With all his strength, he swore to stand. He clenched his teeth and endured the immense pressure. The world itself seemed to collapse on him—but what weight was the world compared to the love he had for Rita?
"Wow."
The magician was genuinely impressed. Reno was now fully standing, Man-Eater in his left hand.
He looked like he was enduring pure agony, but he held firm—and for the magician, that was a real surprise.
He looked at the ogre with delight and said:
"Such an opponent should at least know my name. Young warrior, even if I cannot show my best form, I must reveal it to you. If you survive, I will be the first opponent you face from the other world."
Reno wasn't listening. He was too focused on staying upright and protecting Rita. He turned away from the magician and began walking toward her.
His steps left deep marks in the ground, and his pace was slow. Each step was a new torment, a new wall testing his will.
But he had to reach her…
He had to reach her…
"I am Orubos, the Magician."